Method for transmitting destination information in mobile communication terminal

ABSTRACT

A method for transmitting and for storing destination information in a mobile communication terminal is disclosed. The method for transmitting destination information includes determining whether a navigation mode is enabled and, if the navigation mode is enabled, determining whether a hot key is pressed for a predetermined time. If the hot key is pressed for the predetermined time, destination address information corresponding to the hot key is read, and transmitted to an information center over a wireless network. Therefore, since a phone book of the mobile communication terminal is interworked with destination address information for navigation, the present invention simplifies procedures needed to transmit the destination address information using the mobile communication terminal.

PRIORITY

[0001] This application claims priority to an application entitled“Method For Transmitting Destination Information in Mobile CommunicationTerminal”, filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on Jul. 4,2002 and assigned Serial No. 2002-38584, the contents of which arehereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a navigation system, and moreparticularly to a method for transmitting destination information in amobile communication terminal.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Typically, a navigation system displays a current position of amoving object, calculated by information received from a GPS (GlobalPositioning System), on a map displayed on a display screen. Thenavigation system provides a driver with a variety of navigationinformation such as a proceeding direction of the moving object, adistance from a current position to the destination, a current speed ofthe moving object, a driving path preset by the driver, and an optimumpath to the destination, etc. Such a navigation system (or GPS system)is mounted to a variety of moving objects such as a ship, an airplane,and an automobile, and is widely used for checking current position andcurrent speed of the moving objects or determining moving path of them.In particular, the navigation system calculates the current position ofthe moving object by receiving radio signals indicating latitude,longitude, and altitude from a plurality of satellites involved in a GPSsystem, and then visually displays map information having the calculatedcurrent position for a driver, or audibly informs the driver of the mapinformation.

[0006] In the meantime, to allow a user to receive navigationinformation (e.g., path guide information) from the conventionalnavigation system, the user gains access to the information center byselecting a navigation mode preset in a mobile communication terminal,and performs an additional process for acquiring his or her desiredinformation. For example, to allow the user to receive guide informationconcerning an optimal traveling path to his or her desired destination,the user has to set the destination on a display screen of the mobilecommunication terminal when the mobile communication terminal isswitched to a navigation mode. In conclusion, in order to allow the userto receive his or her desired navigation service, the typical navigationsystem requires the user to perform complicated processes, for example,the user sets the mobile communication terminal to a navigation mode,selects a desired service in the navigation mode, and manually inputshis or her desired information, if necessary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of theabove problems, and it is an object of the present invention to providea method for simplifying a process for handling a mobile communicationterminal when a user transmits destination address information.

[0008] In accordance with the present invention, the above and otherobjects can be accomplished by the provision of a method fortransmitting destination information in a mobile communication terminalhaving a memory storing destination address information, comprising thesteps of a) determining whether a navigation mode is enabled or not; b)if the navigation mode is enabled, determining whether a hot key ispressed for a predetermined time; and c) if the hot key is pressed forthe predetermined time, reading destination address informationcorresponding to the hot key, and transmitting the destination addressinformation to an information center over a wireless network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The above and other objects, features and other advantages of thepresent invention will be more clearly understood from the followingdetailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

[0010]FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a navigation system using a mobilecommunication terminal in accordance with the present invention;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a block diagram of a mobilecommunication terminal in accordance with the present invention;

[0012]FIG. 3A is a view illustrating a display provided to allow amobile communication terminal to make a phone book in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 3B is a view illustrating a display provided to allow amobile communication terminal to add destination address information toprior phone book information in accordance with a preferred embodimentof the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 3C is a view illustrating a phone book having the destinationaddress information added by a mobile communication terminal inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a procedure for storingdestination address information in a phone book of a mobilecommunication terminal in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention; and

[0016]FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a procedure for enabling amobile communication terminal to transmit destination information inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the annexed drawings. In thedrawings, the same or similar elements are denoted by the same referencenumerals even though they are depicted in different drawings. In thefollowing description, a detailed description of known functions andconfigurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make thesubject matter of the present invention rather unclear.

[0018]FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a navigation system using a mobilecommunication terminal in accordance with the present invention. Thisnavigation system provides a user with a navigation function via amobile communication terminal.

[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, a navigation system comprises an informationcenter 100, a mobile communication terminal 120, a wireless network 110,and an ITS (Intelligent Transportation Systems) terminal 140. If a userpushes a hot key of the mobile communication terminal 120, then the usereasily receives a navigation service without performing a cumbersomemanipulation while driving. The hot key, for example, may include anumber key in a navigation mode. The information center 100 providesnavigation information having path guide information. Besides the pathguide information, the navigation information includes a variety ofinformation such as peripheral building information, trafficinformation, living information, bookmark information, and otherauxiliary information, etc. The mobile communication terminal 120 has anavigation mode, receives the navigation information by accessing theinformation center 100 in the navigation mode, and then visually oraudibly guides the user to the received navigation information.Particularly, according to the present invention, in the case where theuser pushes a number key in the navigation mode, the mobilecommunication terminal 120 transmits destination address informationcorresponding to the number key to the information center 100 over awireless network 110. The mobile communication terminal 120 isdetachably connected to a cradle 130 mounted on an automobile. That is,the cradle 130 is mounted to the automobile to enable the mobilecommunication terminal 120 to be detachably attached thereto, and iselectrically connected to the mobile communication terminal 120. Also,the cradle 130 is electrically connected to the ITS terminal 140. Arepresentative example of the mobile communication terminal 120 is acellular phone or a mobile phone, but the mobile communication terminal120 may include a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), or a handheld-PC,etc. The wireless network 110 is provided for a radio connection betweenthe information center 100 and the mobile communication terminal 120.The ITS terminal 140 may further include a memory for storing bookmarkinformation and navigation target information.

[0020]FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a block diagram of a mobilecommunication terminal in accordance with the present invention.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 2, a mobile communication terminal 120comprises an antenna (ANT), a controller 200, a transceiver 210, amemory 220, a key input unit 230, a display 240, a voice processor 250,a microphone (MIC), and a speaker (SPK). The antenna (ANT) transmitstransmission signals received from the transceiver 210 to an informationcenter 100 over a wireless network 110, and receives output signals ofthe information center 100 over the wireless network 110. The controller200 controls an overall operation of a mobile communication terminal120. Particularly, according to the present invention, in the case wherethere is a number key input signal for a predetermined time in anavigation mode, the controller 200 retrieves destination addressinformation corresponding to the number key from a phone book over thewireless network 110, and transmits it to the information center 100.

[0022] The transceiver 210 outputs signals to the information center100, and receives signals from the information center 100 via theantenna (ANT). The memory 220 stores a navigation program for performingvarious operations of the present invention and data processed by thenavigation program. Particularly, the memory 220 stores a phone bookadditionally having destination address information. The phone book isshown in FIGS. 3A to 3C. The memory 220 includes a storage area forstoring a plurality of destination address fields input by a user. Thedestination address fields are shown in the following Table 1. TABLE 1Number Key Memory Address Destination Address 0 000 Hyehwa-dong SeoulNational University Hospital 1 001 Mangpo-dong Paldal-gu Suwon-city 3003 Maetan-dong Paldal-gu Suwon-city . . . . . . . . .

[0023] With reference to Table 1, if the number key ‘0’ is pressed by auser for a predetermined time in the navigation mode, then thecontroller 200 searches a memory address ‘000’ corresponding to thenumber key ‘0’, and transmits destination address informationcorresponding to “Hyehwa-dong Seoul National University Hospital”contained in the memory address ‘000’ to the information center 100 overthe wireless network 110. If the number key “1” is pressed by the userfor a predetermined time in the navigation mode, then the controller 200searches a memory address ‘001’ corresponding to the number key ‘1’, andtransmits destination address information corresponding to “Mangpo-dongPaldal-gu Suwon-city” contained in the memory address “001” to theinformation center 100 over the wireless network 110. If the number key“3” is pressed by the user for a predetermined time in the navigationmode, then the controller 200 searches a memory address ‘003’corresponding to the number key ‘3’, and transmits destination addressinformation corresponding to “Maetan-dong Paldal-gu Suwon-city”contained in the memory address “003” to the information center 100 overthe wireless network 110.

[0024] The key input unit 230 provides an interface between the mobilecommunication terminal 120 and a user. By the key input unit 230, theuser sets a navigation mode, and inputs a variety of navigationinformation accompanied by a navigation service. The display 240displays navigation information or the required operation contents on ascreen of the mobile communication terminal 120. For example, theinformation such as phone book shown in FIGS. 3A-3C may be displayed onthe display 240.

[0025] The voice processor 250 processes voice signals received via themicrophone (MIC), and processes voice signals to be output to thespeaker (SPK). The microphone (MIC) receives voice signals produced fromthe user, converts the received voice signals into electric signals, andthen outputs them. The speaker (SPK) converts electric signals to beoutput to the user into voice signals.

[0026]FIGS. 3A to 3C are views illustrating a phone book havingdestination address information in a mobile communication terminal inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0027]FIG. 3A is a view illustrating a display provided to allow amobile communication terminal to make a phone book in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0028]FIG. 3B is a view illustrating a display provided to allow amobile communication terminal to add destination address information toa prior phone book in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

[0029]FIG. 3C is a view illustrating a phone book having the destinationaddress information added by a mobile communication terminal inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] The destination address information is managed in a mannerdifferent from a field indicating an address stored in a typical phonebook. The address field of the typical phone book includes anarrangement of characters used for indicating an address, but thedestination address information for indicating a destination is definedas a specific format for indicating specific information such as thedestination. When the mobile communication terminal is registered oraccessed to a server providing the destination information, the mobilecommunication terminal cooperates with the server in such a way that itreceives the destination information provided from the server.

[0031]FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a procedure for storingdestination address information in a phone book of a mobilecommunication terminal in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

[0032] Referring to FIG. 4, a controller 200 commands a display 240 todisplay a phone book, and is in a standby state at step 400. Thecontroller 200 determines at step 402 whether there is a phone numberinput signal. If there is a phone number input signal at step 402, thenthe controller 200 goes to step 404. If there is no phone number inputsignal at step 402, then the controller 200 goes to step 408.

[0033] The controller 200 determines at step 404 whether the phonenumber input signal is a residence phone number. If the phone numberinput signal is a residence phone number at step 404, then thecontroller 200 goes to step 408. If the phone number input signal is nota residence phone number at step 404, then the controller 200 goes tostep 406.

[0034] The controller 200 determines at step 408 whether there is anaddress input signal corresponding to the residence phone number. If theaddress input signal corresponding to the residence phone number isdetected at step 408, then the controller 200 goes to step 410. If thereis no address input signal corresponding to the residence phone numberat step 408, then the controller 200 repeatedly performs the step 408.The controller 200 determines at step 410 whether there is a destinationaddress information input signal. If the destination address informationinput signal is detected at step 410, then the controller 200 goes tostep 416. If there is no destination address information input signal atstep 410, then the controller 200 repeatedly performs the step 410.

[0035] For example, the destination address information may be manuallyinput by a user, may be selected in the form of categories received fromthe information center, and may be stored by bookmark information or arecent navigation target connected to the phone book.

[0036] Herein, even when the user manually inputs destinationinformation in the phone book, the controller 200 converts theuser-input destination information into other data available in theinformation center and stores the converted destination information inthe phone book, instead of directly storing the user-input destinationinformation in the phone book. Therefore, the address informationcontained in the phone book may be the user-input data, may be the datareceived from the information center, or may be determined by a bookmarkfunction or a recent navigation target. Herein, those data correspondingto the address information are represented by a general addressrepresentation method and data address representation method.

[0037] The controller 200 determines at step 416 whether there is asignal for commanding the memory 220 to store the phone book. If asignal for commanding the memory 220 to store the phone book is detectedat step 416, then the controller 220 goes to step 418 to store the phonebook in the memory 220. But, if a signal for commanding the memory 220to store the phone book is not detected at step 416, then the controller220 returns to step 402.

[0038] In the meantime, the controller 200 determines at step 406whether there is an office/school number input signal. If anoffice/school number input signal is detected at step 406, then thecontroller 200 goes to step 408. If there is no office/school numberinput signal at step 406, then the controller 200 goes to step 412 todetermine whether the input signal corresponds to a mobile phone numberinput signal.

[0039] If the input signal corresponds to the mobile phone number inputsignal at step 412, then the controller 200 goes to step 414. If theinput signal is not the mobile phone number input signal at step 412,then the controller 200 goes to step 420 to perform a general functionas described below. The controller 200 determines at step 414 whetherthere is an address input signal concerning the mobile phone number. Ifthe address input signal concerning the mobile phone number is detectedat step 414, then the controller 200 goes to step 416. If there is noaddress input signal concerning the mobile phone number at step 414,then the controller 200 repeatedly performs step 414.

[0040]FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a procedure for storingdestination address information at a phone book of a mobilecommunication terminal in the standby state. In accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention, the destinationinformation may be manually input by a user in a phone book input mode,may be selected in a form of categories provided from an informationcenter and may be stored by bookmark information or a recent navigationtarget connected to the phone book.

[0041] For example, a procedure for inputting a destination address in aphone book input mode is as follows.

[0042] The phone input book mode is a mode that corresponds to the priormode for storing a telephone number in a phone book and, in thisinvention, to a mode for storing a telephone number or destinationaddress in a phone book. For instance, if the phone book input mode isselected via a menu, the mobile communication terminal provides the userwith an interface for registering a destination address in a phone booksuch as in the format depicted in FIG. 3A. The user inputs a destinationaddress via the provided interface and designates the address. Thecontroller 200 of the mobile communication terminal displays theselected address and a destination address which is input and checkswhether the key input signal for storing them in a memory 220 isreceived. If a key input signal is detected for storing in a memory, thephone book to which the destination address is added is stored in amemory 220. FIG. 3C is a view of the screen showing completion ofstoring of the destination address in the phone book.

[0043] When storing the destination address in the phone book, thememory address in which a destination address is to be registered ispreferably automatically determined as the smallest number from amongthe destination addresses that has not yet been registered as thedefault, or alternatively is determined according to a user's selectionamong the addresses which have not yet been registered.

[0044]FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a procedure for enabling amobile communication terminal to transmit destination information inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] Referring to FIG. 5, the controller 200 is in a standby state atstep 500. The standby state in one aspect, includes a predeterminedstate wherein the mobile communication terminal 120 is mounted to acradle 130 and the cradle 130 is connected to an ITS terminal 140. Thecontroller 200 determines at step 510 whether there is a key inputsignal. If a key input signal is detected at step 510, then thecontroller 200 goes to step 520. If no key input signal is detected atstep 510, then the controller 200 repeatedly performs the step 510.

[0046] The controller 200 determines at step 520 whether the key inputsignal is a navigation mode selection signal. If the key input signal isa navigation mode selection signal at step 520, then the controller goesto step 530. If the key input signal is not a navigation mode selectionsignal at step 520, then the controller goes to step 540 to perform ageneral function.

[0047] The controller 200 determines at step 530 whether there is anumber key input signal for a predetermined time. If a number key inputsignal is detected for a predetermined time at step 530, the controller200 goes to step 550. If there is no number key input signal for apredetermined time at step 530, the controller 200 goes to step 540. Forexample, the predetermined time is set to between one and two seconds.At step 550, the controller 200 retrieves destination addressinformation corresponding to a number key from the memory 220, and thentransmits the destination address information.

[0048] As apparent from the above description, since a phone book of amobile communication terminal is interworked with destination addressinformation for navigation, the present invention simplifies proceduresneeded to transmit the destination address information using the mobilecommunication terminal.

[0049] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention havebeen disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art willappreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions arepossible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the inventionas disclosed in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for transmitting destination informationin a mobile communication terminal having a memory storing destinationaddress information, comprising the steps of: determining whether anavigation mode is enabled; if the navigation mode is enabled,determining whether a hot key is pressed for a predetermined time; andif the hot key is pressed for the predetermined time, readingdestination address information corresponding to the hot key, andtransmitting the destination address information to an informationcenter over a wireless network.
 2. A method for storing destinationaddress information in a mobile communication terminal having a memorystoring a phone book, comprising the steps of: receiving a destinationaddress by a user; assigning an arbitrary address of said phone book towhich the destination address has not yet been registered by the user;and registering said input destination address in said assignedarbitrary address.
 3. The method as set forth in claim 2, furthercomprising the step of: selecting the destination address information ina form of categories provided from an information center, and storing acategorized destination address information in the memory.
 4. The methodas set forth in claim 2, further comprising the step of: storing thedestination address information by employing bookmark informationpreviously stored in an ITS (Intelligent Transportation System)terminal.
 5. The method as set forth in claim 2, further comprising thestep of: storing the destination address information by employing recentnavigation target information previously stored in an ITS (IntelligentTransportation System) terminal.